Forelsket

Chapter 3

Elle

You can't always win. I know what
I've got and I will fully utilize it until you're knelt down begging for me.

I saw how Harrice's eyes glit like a fiery chocolate orb at my defiance. But no, I won't bow down. I will never bow down to anyone.

If there's anyone that I would let to command around me, it will be just Rainey. Just her. No one else.

I winced seeing how she clings to Carrie as if her life depends on that woman.

How can she just forget about me that easily?

I was there. Always there. Trying my best to be the best one for her. She's always there too. Beside me. But was never mine. Theirs but was never ours. She's always the woman I'm always running after, catching as she falls, but never enough for her to stay with.

I am always like that. A free ride she's always getting. A ride to take her everywhere. Just a pull over and not her destination. Just a resthouse. Not enough to be called her home. Someone that she's tolerating to roam around her personal space but not enough to let me invade her thoughts. And her heart.

"Elle, you should learn to go along with your team if you want to survive the summer camp." Paalala sakin ni Tita Leigh matapos nitong itigil yung motor boat sa may malapit sa pampang. Hanggang tuhod ko na lang yata yung tubig. "This is not a solo fight. This is a team fight."

I glance over my team. Seryoso ang itsura ng mga ito. Paano ba naman, unang game talo na kami agad. We will be sleeping in a tent just because I didn't swim across the water to reach our base.

Kung tutuusin, pwede pa namin makuha yung pangatlong pwesto. Lalo na at mukhang plano naman magpatalo talaga ni Carrie dahil inaalalayan nito si Rainey. Kaya nga ito inaaway ni Elise. Naiinis ito na parang hindi naman nagseseryoso sa laro sina Ember at Carrie. Mas gusto pa yata kasing lumipat ng dalawa sa kabilang team kung nasan yung mga partners ng mga ito.

Such a pity sight.

Pagbaba ko ay nilapitan ako ni Ate Cray para alalayan. Agad naman akong yumakap dito para magpabuhat. Ayokong mabasa din kasi yung mga paa ko. Baka magkarashes or scabies kasi ako bigla. Ayoko ng tubig na pinapaliguan na lang ng kung sino-sino kahit sabihin pa na running water naman iyon. It's so yikes.

"Bakit di ka bumaba? Baka wala na kayong kainin mamaya. Hindi mo ba narinig yung sinabi ni Ate Grant?" bulong pa ni Ate Cray sakin habang buhat buhat ako at inihahatid sa team ko.

"Let them. I'm not even interested in this game. If it's not for Momma, I won't even join this stupid camp. Who wants this anyway?"

Inilapit nito yung labi nito sa noo ko at kinintalan ng halik. "Stop being a baby, Elle. This is a team fight. You may not want to lose. The more you resist, the more it will get harder. Kaya if I were you, I'll try to cooperate with them."

Hindi ako nakasagot. Alam ko naman iyon. Actually before this summer camp, ilang beses na ako sinabihan ni Mommy na bawas bawasan ko daw ang kamalditahan ko. If I were to show up my horns, make sure no one will be caught up with it's sharp edge. Dahil oras daw na makarating na naman sa kanya na may ginawa ako, makakatikim na daw talaga ako sa kanya.

And No. Ate Cray and I, grew up na si Momma lang ang nagagalit samin at nagdidisiplina. Tapos si Mommy yung sumusuyo samin at nag-eexplain kung bakit kami napagalitan ni Momma. Kaya ni minsan hindi lumayo yung loob namin sa parents namin, mas lalo pa ngang napalapit.

Growing up, I never gave them a headache. Consistent honor student ako. I can live on my own kahit pa madalas na wala sila pareho sa bahay ni Momma pag may mga international game si Ate Cray. Tapos si Ate Cray naman sa ibang bansa nag-aral noon dahil nakakuha ito ng offer abroad to become an international tennis player. Madalas tuloy akong naiiwan. But I survived that. Because I have Rainey. Rainey is always there, making sure that I will never be left out.